Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson tips Courtney Lawes to make 2027 Rugby World Cup for England

By Sam Jackson

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson is confident Courtney Lawes can force his way back into the England squad and be a big hit at the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Lawes, who won 105 England caps and toured with the British and Irish Lions on two occasions, last played for his country at RWC2023 and led Northampton Saints to the Premiership title that season before departing for a stint in the French ProD2 with Brive.

The 37-year-old has come out of international retirement after agreeing a deal to play for Sale next season.

And Sanderson, below, is backing him to return for Steve Borthwick’s England side and make it to a fifth World Cup.

Platform

“We can get him to a World Cup in great form, in good shape,” said Sanderson. “We can give him a platform, with the pack that we’ve got and the players we’ve recruited, to put the best of himself back into the Prem.

“I know there’s been talk about his age but if you’ve looked at how many games he’s played, he’s clearly extremely robust, he’s playing some of his best rugby, so there’s no reason why, given his ambition, given physically how he is matching up, that he can’t get to a World Cup in great shape.”

Sale face Saracens today, still smarting from their 43-13 defeat to Leinster last week in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

They are adrift of the play-off race, but Sanderson is determined to climb the table before going again next season with Lawes part of a summer influx that includes England centres Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski, Wales props Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis, and South African lock JJ Scheepers.

Star: Courtney Lawes in action in France
PICTURE: Getty Images

Hurting

Sharks suffered a 65-14 defeat at Saracens in October and were ridiculed by Sanderson’s former club, who posted a social-media victory video showing a fish being dipped into a deep-fat fryer.

Sanderson said: “I’m still hurting from the result down there. We got stuffed and then got our faces rubbed in it from their side. So that still stings for me.

“So there’s a little bit of dented pride to sort out and, always for them, social media bragging rights.

“That’s important for them. I think the end of this campaign is important. It tests the mettle of your more deep-seated motivators – how much the lads mean to each other.

“We want to see out some of the lads out who are leaving in the right style. I want to make that feel special because the lads that are leaving do matter to me.”